Lloyd Cornue

Lloyd Cornue, 85, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center on May 1, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Lloyd was born in 1940 in Harvard, Illinois to the late Stanley and Meta (Felbeck) Cornue. He grew up in Hebron, Illinois, graduating from Alden-Hebron High School in 1959. From childhood into his teens he helped on the family farm. He honorably served three years in the U.S. Army as a helicopter mechanic, stationed for two years in South Korea. He attended the Institute of Aviation (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), graduating first in his class and earning his pilot’s license in 1965. He married Virginia (Ginny) Stalbaum in 1968. They made their home and raised their family in Lake Geneva, Wis.

Lloyd had a passion for aviation, and landed his dream job in 1965 as a commercial pilot for Trans World Airlines. He flew for 15 years before a health issue forced him into early retirement. With his flying career heartbreakingly over, he persevered and put his skills and creativity into new ventures. In the 1980s he founded and ran Cornue Energy Systems, designing and installing solar energy systems on his own home and the homes of his clients. As a builder, he constructed a super-insulated, foam block home that he and Ginny lived in. For a time he ran his own firewood business, J&L Logging. He later founded Cornue Classics Corporation, manufacturing wide whitewall tires for classic cars. He was employed for several years at Wag-Aero in Lyons, Wis. In his semi-retired years he drove school bus routes for Dousman Transport, and truck routes for Robinson Wholesale Bait.

A lifelong machinery buff and tinkerer, at age 15 Lloyd built a motorbike by copying one owned by a friend. At 16, he fixed up an old 1936 Ford for his own use, gifted to him by his Dad. He became a highly skilled mechanic and fabricator who enjoyed restoring, building and driving classic vehicles, winning many awards. His favorite projects included a 1940 John Deere Model D (restored with his son), a 1958 Ford Fairlane retractable hardtop, and a 1940s-style Ford truck that he fabricated into a dually for pulling a fifth wheel camper. He was most proud of his custom 1933 Ford Roadster, describing it as “a 2006 Mustang wearing 1933 clothes.” He and Ginny enjoyed many road trips and socializing with the Centerville Antique Auto Touring Society (CAATS), and the Kettle Moraine Car Club.

Lloyd’s faith and service to others was important to him. A longtime member of the Lake Geneva United Methodist Church, he sang in the choir and served in various leadership roles. He founded the Christian Auto Repair Service, or C.A.R.S Ministry, which repaired over 130 donated cars and gave them away to people in need of transportation. Lloyd was a former member of the Kiwanis Club of Lake Geneva, and enjoyed making pancakes at their annual pancake breakfast — one of his favorite things to eat! After church on Sundays he could often be found whistling in his home kitchen making the best homemade buttermilk pancakes and waffles.

Always up for mischief, Lloyd had several stories from his youth that he loved to share. One was his first flying lesson — in a speeding car on a hilly back road. He also had stories about seeing UFOs as a pilot. Most of all, Lloyd loved spending time with his family, children and grandchildren. He was gregarious, playful and hands-on, teaching us how to swim, ride bikes, and water ski. He invited us to work alongside him, taught us how to use tools, how to fix things, and, of course, how to drive a manual transmission. For decades he enjoyed supporting his son’s passion for pipe organs, taking trips with him to acquire salvaged parts, and participating in the activities of the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society.

Lloyd is survived by his three children: Christy (Paul) Nesja, Carrie (Paul) Crispigna, and John (Amanda) Cornue; five grandchildren: Chris, Dan, Alex, Sean and Greta; sister Sandra (Cornue) Hammond; sister-in-law Bonnie (Robinson) Cornue; nephews Michael (Pamela) Hammond, Tom (Marcela) Hammond, and Daniel (Adriana) Cornue; and many friends.

In addition to his parents, Lloyd was preceded in death by Ginny, his wife of 40 years; brothers Alan and Paul Cornue; brothers-in-law Reginald Hammond and Alan Stalbaum; stepgrandson Kyle Santiago; and cherished friend, Thomas Borysek.

A visitation to honor Lloyd’s life will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026, at Derrick Funeral Home, 800 Park Drive, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Lake Geneva United Methodist Church, 912 Geneva Street, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, with the Rev. Keith Aurand officiating. Light refreshments will follow. A private burial will take place at the Linn-Hebron Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lloyd’s memory may be made to the Lake Geneva United Methodist Church, 912 Geneva Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, www.michaeljfox.org, or by using the link at the bottom of the page. 

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at The Gardens at RidgeStone, Elkhorn, Wis., and Aurora Lakeland Medical Center for their attentive, compassionate care. 

To post an online condolence please proceed to the bottom of the obituary under Guest Book where you can submit your condolence.

Derrick Funeral Home of Lake Geneva is honored to be assisting the Cornue Family.